I don’t remember exactly when I started, but I think I’ve been using the app Evernote for at least seven to eight years now. I’ve been a paid subscriber for quite a long time, and recently, I renewed my subscription once again.

To be honest, for the past few years, Evernote seemed to lag behind other note-taking apps and didn’t quite implement the features I wanted. As a result, every year around renewal time, I found myself comparing and analyzing new and familiar note-taking apps.

Especially after being acquired by Bending Spoons, feature improvements became noticeably more active, which was welcome, but the subscription cost also increased. Despite this, I thought it would be valuable to share the process and reasons behind my decision to renew my subscription, which led me to write this post.

Alternative Apps I Considered

Being very interested in productivity apps, I took another look at the apps I had been watching and considering when it was time to renew my Evernote subscription. I spent at least 2-3 weeks actively using each app. These are excellent applications that could be the perfect choice for someone else, so if you’re currently deciding on a note-taking app, you might find your ideal match among the options below. Please note that the pros and cons listed here are based purely on my personal usage criteria and may differ from your own experiences.

Key Factors I Considered (Keywords)

• Search Performance & Convenience: How well and easily can I find my notes?
• Table Feature Support: Is there robust support for tables? (I personally use tables a lot).
• Note Sharing Capabilities: Can I easily share notes? (I occasionally share organized notes with my family).
• Excellent Synchronization & Cross-Platform Support: Does it sync reliably across different operating systems? (I currently use Windows and Android devices).
• Cost-Effectiveness: Is the price reasonable? (A monthly fee around ₩10,000 KRW, approximately $7-8 USD / €7-8 EUR, was acceptable).

Notion

Notion is a leading note-taking app widely used by Koreans. While its collaboration features are outstanding, they are less appealing to me as I primarily use it alone. However, it boasts incredible flexibility and has recently strengthened its ecosystem by launching Notion Mail and Calendar.

• Pros:
  • Modern design and free-form note layout.
  • Database capabilities and excellent extensibility.
  • Most features are usable even on the free plan.
  • Korean language support and a strong community.
• Cons:
  • No offline support (though it seems likely to be added soon).
  • Limited tagging functionality (tags apply only to specific pages, not globally).
  • Can be slow (noticeably faster recently, but still lags with large databases or content-heavy pages).
• Final Thoughts: If you want an all-in-one app, Notion is the way to go!

Obsidian

A popular local-first Markdown note-taking app that has gained traction in recent years. If managing my data locally were a higher priority, I would have definitely chosen Obsidian. Although I don’t use it as my primary app, its local storage makes it useful for occasionally backing up my Evernote data.

• Pros:
  • Data is stored and managed locally.
  • Wide variety of community plugins.
  • Markdown support.
  • Free (paid sync is available, but free alternatives exist using plugins or sync services).
• Cons:
  • Search results can be difficult to navigate and lack readability.
  • High dependency on plugins (less so for basic note-taking, but that diminishes Obsidian’s unique appeal).
  • Sync methods exist, but delays can occur.
  • Using tables isn’t straightforward.
  • Difficult to use effectively with attachments like PDFs.
  • Lack of a web version and limited sharing features (understandable for a local-first app, but a reason it wasn’t my final choice).
• Final Thoughts: Obsidian is great if you work solo and prefer direct control over your notes!

Logseq

Logseq is a local-first note-taking app based on an outliner format. Similar to Obsidian, but its default note-taking style is outlining. It’s an attractive app, but development on the current version seems to have stalled as the team focuses on a new Database version.

• Pros:
  • Data is stored and managed locally.
  • Block-based note-taking allows for sophisticated note linking.
  • Outliner format (good for hierarchical data).
  • Excellent for daily journaling or date-based notes.
  • Free (paid sync available, free alternatives exist).
• Cons:
  • The outliner default makes writing long-form content relatively less convenient.
  • Development seems paused for a long time (while the DB version is in progress, its release date is uncertain).
  • Lack of a web version and limited sharing features (understandable, but a factor in my decision).
• Final Thoughts: Personally more appealing than Obsidian, but the slow development pace led me to pass. Let’s revisit when the DB version is released.

Upnote

This app(Upnote) reminds me of Evernote’s earlier days – fast, reliable, and focused on the essentials. It’s one of the few apps offering a lifetime license, allowing for a one-time purchase and lifelong use at an affordable price.

• Pros:
  • Intuitive and simple UI.
  • Fast and lightweight.
  • Reasonable pricing (one-time purchase option available).
  • Offers various export/import options.
  • Focuses purely on the core function of note-taking.
• Cons:
  • Lacks advanced features.
  • Limited table functionality.
  • No web viewer (only accessible via desktop program or mobile app).
• Final Thoughts: If table features aren’t crucial and you dislike subscriptions, Upnote is a solid choice!

OneNote

Microsoft’s note-taking app offers a free-form canvas and powerful integration, especially within the Microsoft ecosystem. Although I subscribe to Microsoft 365, I ultimately didn’t choose OneNote. However, I’d recommend it if you subscribe to MS Office or heavily use Microsoft solutions.

• Pros:
  • Free-form canvas (place text, images, etc., anywhere).
  • Excellent handwriting support (unbeatable if you combine typing and handwriting).
• Cons:
  • No Markdown support.
  • Difficult to export data.
  • No built-in PDF viewer (requires downloading to view).
  • No option to disable editing in the mobile app (I prefer a view-only mode on mobile, but accidental edits happen).
• Final Thoughts: Highly recommended if you combine note-taking with handwriting!

Supernotes

Supernotes is a powerful card-based note-taking app that isn’t widely used in Korea yet. While it doesn’t officially support Korean, typing and searching in Korean work without issues. I discovered it late last year and used the paid version for a while with great satisfaction. However, some limitations prevented me from choosing it ultimately. It’s an underrated gem, and I’m keeping an eye on its updates.

• Pros:
  • Ideal for short notes focusing on core ideas.
  • Excellent note linking capabilities (parent notes, internal links).
  • Clean and minimalist UI (intuitive layout).
  • Built-in calendar facilitates date-based viewing and searching.
  • Markdown support.
• Cons:
  • Limited external integrations (Google Drive, Calendar linking, etc.).
  • Basic table functionality.
  • Only image attachments currently supported (PDF support seems likely but unconfirmed).
  • The unique note-taking and linking style might feel unfamiliar.
• Final Thoughts: Strongly recommended if you focus on short notes like journal entries or memos, or prioritize note connectivity!

Samsung Notes

As I own Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets, Samsung Notes comes pre-installed. It’s a great app, strong in both note-taking and handwriting. However, the lack of proper Windows app support led me to exclude it.

• Pros:
  • Included free on Galaxy devices.
  • Excellent S Pen integration and handwriting performance.
  • Integrates with the Samsung ecosystem.
  • Ability to import and write on PDF files.
• Cons:
  • Windows app is officially limited to Samsung PCs like Galaxy Books (workarounds exist, but I didn’t want the hassle).
  • Search functionality could be better.
  • Limited integration with external apps.

Others

I also tried various other note-taking apps like Tana, Standard Notes, RemNote, and Reflect Notes. However, factors like lack of Korean support, missing Windows or Android versions, or high subscription fees led me not to choose them.

Evernote’s Pros and Cons

Comparing Evernote with these diverse applications actually clarified the reasons to stick with it.

• Pros:
  • Excellent Search: Ability to use diverse search syntax, fast search speed, and effective filtering.
  • Web Clipping: While many apps offer this, I haven’t found clipping as detailed or consistently high-performing as Evernote’s.
  • Stable Synchronization: Its long history generally translates to high reliability (though some instability has appeared post-acquisition).
  • Optimized for Note-Taking: Focuses strongly on the core functions of writing and finding notes, rather than handwriting or excessive extra features.
  • Tags: The combination of folder structures and a robust tagging system is a major strength for organization.
  • Familiarity: It represents the classic, intuitive approach to note-taking that many people are used to.
  • Active Development: Since the acquisition, Bending Spoons has been rapidly improving lagging features (though bugs are a side effect…).
  • Offline Support: Notes can be downloaded on mobile for offline access.
• Cons:
  • Subscription Cost: Sharply increased after the Bending Spoons acquisition (though discounts can mitigate this).
  • Various Bugs: Perhaps due to the rapid pace of feature improvements post-acquisition, various bugs and stability issues are noticeable.
  • Communication: Responsiveness to feedback seems slower than before.
  • Competitive Features: While efforts like introducing AI are being made, Evernote still lags behind some competitors in terms of cutting-edge features.
  • Limited Extensibility: Integration with other apps and services feels less extensive than it used to be.

Why I Ultimately Chose Evernote Again

Despite the pros and cons, a few key reasons cemented my decision to renew with Evernote:

1. Powerful Search: The ability to quickly and easily filter and search through years’ worth of accumulated data is invaluable.
2. Bending Spoons’ Efforts: I appreciate the passion shown by the new owners in trying to revitalize the app. They are clearly working hard to catch up on features and competitiveness. The improvement to code blocks, a feature I particularly missed, was a significant plus for me.
3. Price (with Discount): The standard price is around ₩10,000/month, which is comparable to many other premium apps today. When considering all apps as paid subscriptions, Evernote didn’t feel outrageously expensive, although arguably its feature set compared to some others might make the standard price seem high. However, I secured a 60% discount, bringing the cost down to an easily manageable ₩3,000-₩4,000 per month.

While I listed Evernote’s drawbacks earlier, honestly, apart from the occasional bugs, I’m satisfied with its current functionality for my needs. The cons mentioned were primarily for comprehensive comparison, not showstoppers for me personally.

Future Outlook

Currently, I use Evernote primarily as a data archive. I store various documents, articles, work references, and miscellaneous information gathered throughout my life. When I need to recall something or find specific information, Evernote’s search is my go-to tool. As long as it maintains strong data management and powerful search capabilities, I expect to continue using it.

Given the significant feature enhancements since the acquisition, I would be even more satisfied if future development placed a greater emphasis on stability and polish.